Mumbai: The prosecution for the Bandra-Worli Sea Link accident on Monday could lose key evidence if doctors fail to ascertain whether the driver, Ranjeet Kamble, had consumed alcohol before driving.
The matter assumes significance after people known to him alleged that he could have been drunk while driving.
On Monday, Kamble, a resident of BDD Chawl, Worli, had rammed a Toyota carrying nine other people into a divider close to the Worli end of the BWSL, killing two women and injuring seven children in the car.
His neighbour, Pooja Gaikwad, said, "Ranjeet seemed to be drunk before taking the kids for the drive. He had hit some poles near building no 18 in BDD Chawl, from where he picked up the women and children. In fact, two children got down from the car after that."
One of his relatives, Reshma Pawar, said, "He did drink a lot. He was completely drunk on Holi, the day before the accident. We do not know if he was drunk on Monday."
Although it is unclear whether Kamble was drunk, a doctor from Bhabha Hospital said, "Kamble was mildly smelling of alcohol when he was brought in. But nothing has been confirmed as yet."
Kamble's brother, Shailesh, defended him, saying, "Ranjeet has been a driver for the past 15 years and there hasn't been any complaint till date, not even a minor one."
Current Status
The Worli Police said that a case has been registered against him under Sections 279 (for negligence and rash driving), 304 (for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 338 (for causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others). A police officer on duty said, "There is no case registered for drunk driving."
Meanwhile, Kamble was operated on Monday night for abdominal and pelvic trauma. A doctor from Bhabha Hospital said, "His condition is critical and his blood pressure is not getting recorded. He has been kept on ventilator."
About the children injured in the accident and admitted to the hospital, he said, "Ajay Poojari (12), who was in a critical condition, was operated upon, while the others are fine, as they sustained minor injuries."
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